"Murder, Misfits & Mutts" - Chapter 14 - Carmel Dog Tales

Chapter 14

Abby ravenously attacked a plate of pasta smothered in watery white clam sauce. Across the table, Jerry glared at his plate, picking at loose strands of spaghetti bathing in a wallpaper paste marinara.

“I suppose you can do better?” Abby said, inhaling her meal.

Jerry offered a bemused smile.

Abby’s cell rang. She checked the caller ID, excused herself from the table and headed to a private corner of this Carmel Bistro outdoor patio.

Sitting tall in Jerry’s lap, Winifred nosed her way to Jerry’s plate and a lonesome noodle drooping over the edge.

“Cheating on Frenchy, huh?” Sheriff’s Detective, Derek Butler, slung himself down into a chair beside Jerry.

“Hey, Columbo! Caught your act on TV the other day.”

“Yeah. Too bad. Knox was an okay guy. Met him a couple of years ago at some law enforcement charity.”

Derek studied the dog in Jerry’s lap, was about to say something when his face went blank, the sight of Abby walking towards him getting his undivided attention – her scratched face and bloody shirt more than a little disturbing.

The way Abby and Derek looked at each other, whatever was between them still had some heat.

“She was there, Derek. And she knows who did it.”

Derek again checked Jerry, hoping for some mano a mano support.

“Don’t look at me,” said Jerry, then smiled at the mutt in his lap, “Ask her.”

Winifred gave Derek a low grrrrrr.

Derek pushed back from the table. “You’re not doing this to me, Abby. Not again. I’m not going to look like a fool!”

“Come on, Derek. This is different.”

“You got that right.” Old wound ripped open, Derek tossed the collar and tags on the table, threw some bills next to his beer bottle and was gone.

Jerry and Winifred watched the life force drain from Abby, the days’ events and the cliffs of doom taking their physical and mental toll. Draining her wine, she watched Winifred slurp the lonesome noodle off Jerry’s plate.